Arsenal have been offered the possibility of a deal to sign one Man City star who's being courted by Barcelona and Real Madrid, according to a report.
Arsenal neck and neck with Man City at the top of the Premier League
The title race is on a knife-edge and Arsenal know it.
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Back-to-back Premier League defeats — 2-1 at home to Bournemouth followed by Sunday's defeat at the Etihad, where goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland did the damage — have handed City an opening they fully intend to exploit.
After their narrow win at Burnley, Pep Guardiola's side now sit top purely on goals scored, with goal difference and points exactly the same, so as things stand, the title is in City's hands.
Arsenal face Newcastle at the Emirates this Saturday before turning their attention to a Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid across two legs at the end of April and beginning of May — a juggling act that adds genuine complexity to their title push.
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Both Arsenal and City can mathematically reach 85 points, so it appears the finer details will decide who wins the coveted Premier League title.
Amid the intensity of this nerve-wracking run-in, however, summer planning is already moving in the background.
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After links with Real Madrid sensation Arda Güler earlier this week, a piece of unexpected business has reportedly landed in Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta's inbox.
Arsenal offered 'surprise' deal for Man City legend Bernardo Silva
According to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, intermediaries have approached Arsenal over the possibility of signing Bernardo Silva in a 'surprise' deal when his City contract expires this summer.
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The approach is a shock on multiple levels, not least because the Portuguese midfielder has spent nine trophy-laden years at the Etihad — where he has helped to gazump Arsenal on multiple occasions.
Bernardo, 31, is an Etihad institution.
He recently became the player with the most victories in their history, surpassing the great David Silva with his 215th win in a City shirt, and has made over 450 appearances for the club across a glittering career.
His departure at the end of the season had been long anticipated, but the idea of him staying in the Premier League — let alone joining a direct rival — adds a twist few saw coming.
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Arsenal haven't made a formal approach, and TEAMtalk make clear the enquiries have come from the side of Silva's camp rather than representing concrete interest from the Gunners.
But crucially, it is believed that they're open to exploring the idea of signing Bernardo rather than rejecting it outright — which in itself is significant.
The ex-Monaco star has already turned down the financial lure of Saudi Arabia, with lucrative offers from the Pro League explored and rejected.
His preference is to remain at European level, and Juventus are currently understood to be leading the queue for his signature, having maintained dialogue with his camp throughout the year.
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Inter Milan, AC Milan, Como, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all also registered interest, with his former clubs Benfica and Monaco monitoring from a distance.
For now, Silva's focus is on helping City over the line in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest title races in years.
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